Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-25

the roots freeze will kill it, but not such |
freezes as we have here. I have tried it, ,
and the freezes only kill the few roots |
which lie on top Of the ground.
John a. Hill, Whitehouse, Tex We
need something that will stand long,
dry, hot summer. Johnson grass will
do this, but it is too hard to subdue. A
great many ranchmen and farmers
are experimenting largely with it; some
praise it highly, others are not well
pleased with it.
Dr. Vasey says that Bermuds grass is
the most valuable Of all southern grasses.
1t is generally used as lawn grass, and
to hold Ievees Or railroad entertainments,
and for small pastures. It's chief value is
for summer pasture, end is highly priced
for hay. The following Texas authorities
are quoted in its favor:
NJ. NJ. Martin, COmanche, ComanChe
county, Central Texas: Bermuda grass
grows on any kind of soil in Texas, but
will not stand the trampiDg CT stock on
loose sandy soil. 1t is hard to beat for
grazing grass, though long drouths cause
It to dry up. 1t is not very early TO stsrt
| in the spring.
William T. Gill. Kerrville, Kerr county,
Central Texas: It is hardy against cold,
but does not spread in this dry section,
barely holding its own against our long
| drouths.
George Echols, Longview, Gregg
county, Northeastern Texas: Bermuda
thrives on dry soil south of So 1t re-
quires no cultivation, stands drouths
well, and affords green pasture eight
months in the year. 1t will stand three
months under water and not kill out.
Whitfield Moore, Woodland, Red River
county, Northeastern Texas: Bermuda
stands drouths well, is q good fertilizer,
grows well from fifteen to twenty years
from one planting, then only needs plOW-
ing in spring to renew it. 1t is tolerably
easily subdued by shallow turning in
early winter, so that it will freeze. 1t
yields heavy crops of hay and can be
moved three times year. 1t is the finest
grass have ever seen for summer graz
| ing, and when inclosed from stock during
the summer it is fine winter grazing. 1t
will stop washing and cause low wet land
! to fill up and become d!y.
OF the Texas blue grass DR.. Vasey
says: This grass was first described by
DR.. John Torrey, in the report of Captain
Marcy's exploration of the Red river of
Louisiana, as having been found in 1862
on the hesdwaters Of the Trinity in
Northern Texas, and named P0a arach-
nifera from the profusion OF webby hairs
growing about the flowers. This feature
is variable, however, probably depending
somewhat on the amount of shade or ex-
posure TO which the grass IS subject, The
seeds, besides being very small, are es-
pecially difficult to SOW from their cling
ing together by means of this lint or
| % nj
been considerable complaint OF the fail
ure Of the seed to grow, though some
have grown it successfully. The grass is
propagated with less care by means OF
the SETS or fragments of the subterraneau
stems, and so long as the seed remains at
its present high price this will often be
found the most satisfactory way Of get
ting start. The time and methods OF
planting the seeds snd sets are gwen in
the subjoined extracts from correspond
ents.
Texas blue grass, though still but little
known, promises TO become the best win
ter grass throughout the south, wherever
there ls good soil and fair degree OF
rainfall. 1t has been too little tried al
the north for any satisfactory estimate to
be formed of its value there. IN Kansas
it has been grown successfully for several
lyears. a plat of it planted on the grounds
of the department last spring has stood
the winter and is now about three inches
high, and looking as well as any of the
grasses on trial. The plat was grown
from the sets. Seeds sown at the same
time failed to grow. Small quantities OF
the seed will be sent out for trial this sea-
son from the department. Several partie.
in Texas and Alabama have seeds and sets
for sale, but they have not yet become
general articles of trade.
w. c. Lipscomb, Crockett, Tex: Texas
blue grass is cultivated here on a limited
and mostly experimental scale. 1t has
proved to be hardy, and 10 stand drought
exceptionally we'll. It prefers elevated
. rich sandy soil. The only obstacle see
in the way Of its propagation is the diff
, Guilty OF sowing the seeds, which cling
together, owing to a lint surrounding
, them. Any invention or process over
coming this difficulty would be OF great
, value to US in the future.
James Perry, WhitesbOrougb, Tex: L
seems to have sprung up here in the las
few years by chance, and is beng propa
gated as fast as seed can be found. II
furnishes good early grazing, but is o.
40 value after July, though il comes
from the root again when the fall rains
set in. l have had it on the same ground
for ten years. 1t is about as easily sub
| dued by cultivation as Kentucky blue
, grass.
7 W. Weaver, Simpson, Shelby couaty
Eastern Texas: l have had four years
. experience with the Texas blue grass
The older the SOC the thicker snd bette,
) it is. II is almost worthless until abou
! the fourth year. The people are takins
5 hold OF it here IN good earnest.
: George II. Hogan of Ennis, Tex, who
? srst suggested the name Texas Blu'
: Grass, gave 81 account of it in the repor
: for lSSl-'S2, and now adds: OF all tht
grasses indigenous to our country the Pc;
arschnifera stands first as q winter grass
l have been tryingsit for eleven years, snC
each year am more convinced of it
merits. l consider it better than POI
pratensis (Kentucky Blue Grass for an
= locality.
c. B. Richardson, Henderson, Rusl
t county, Texas, gives an account OF thi
e grass in the Agricultural Report fol
lSSl-'S2, and in letter to the Commits
? sioner, December 25, 1885, adds: Tn
seeds are very light and troublesome t.
I plant. Plant them about the Goth o
February, as you would beets or flint